Udad - S/T

 

Now this is an interesting one! Udad are a new Norwegian black metal band honoring the masters of old, Darkthrone, Gorgoroth and their like. Their self titled debut album is an impressive offering, a record that transcends many of the bands peers and uses the tropes of the genre to perfection. The project is the brainchild of Thomas Eriksen of Mork. As Mork evolves, Udad is a journey back to traditional nineties black metal with its monochromatic vibes, unapologetic visions and a sense of blasphemy that makes for some wonderfully engaging stuff.

This is black metal done in a way that is eerie, mystical and powerful, fully aware of the power of the genre but leaning into what makes it great. While there are few surprises on Udad it is definitely deeply engaging listening for fans of the underground. This is a record that doesn't rely too much on intensity or violence, but rather vibes, using tremolo picking and pained vocals to craft twisted vibes that will drag listeners into the abyss. It's a record that hints at so much more but which is satisfied in leaning into the bleak visions that make the genre so compelling in the first place. 

I sincerely hope to hear a follow up on Udad. It's an interesting exploration by one of the premier artists in his genre of their roots. It's a record that speaks to a deep knowledge of a music that has fundamentally shaped a lot of us and the execution is fascinating. Udad seems intent on conjuring very specific creepy vibes and drawing listeners ever deeper into the abyss. Letting yourself get swept away in this maelstrom is a delight. 

Pre-order the album!

Hammr - Eternal Possession

 

Hammr are the sort of old school black metal force that requires a deep familiarity with the genre to truly appreciate, but for those of us who are immersed in this kind of music what they do is thrilling. Their new record Eternal Possession is steeped in the magic of bands like Hellhammer or Celtic Frost. It's got those old school Bathory vibes with the lo fi production and the sense that everything could fall apart at any moment. This is the sort of recording that takes a tape buzz as a way to help fuel the sound and contribute to the magic. 

It's clear that Hammr are proud to wear their influences on their sleeve, but this record seems to eagerly go so much beyond that. There is a level of swagger on Eternal Possession that few of the bands peers could imitate. The washed out vocals are twisted screams, with all sorts of effects on them to make the most lo fi and dangerous sounding recording possible. It's exactly the sort of thing that really reflects the basement energy of the early extreme metal scene and it's a delight to hear a band in 2022 delivering this exact style of music with grit and aplomb, consistently proving their own excellence and charming listeners with the audacity of their delivery. 

Eternal Possession is a stunner any way you slice it and it's a delight to get lost in the blazing assault and unrelenting blast furnace that crafts these tracks. It's a black metal nerds black metal record, gorge on its own bloodlust and eager to prove to listeners once and for all that Hammr are a force to be reckoned with. Getting lost in the twisted burning wreckage of this band is a delight and something that underground fans are going to be relentlessly charmed by. Eternal Possession is quite the rallying cry and one DIY black metal warriors will endlessly enjoy.

Pre-order the album!

https://hammr-us.bandcamp.com/

Gnosis - Omens From The Dead Realm

There's really something to be said for underground bands that choose an atavistic path in their songwriting. Such is the triumph of Omens From The Dead Realm, a record that sees there has been musical progress in extreme metal since the late 80s, but largely chooses to ignore it. While the primitive songwriting is certainly addictive, there are serious drawbacks, namely in the bands desire to incorporate weird amounts of diversity that don't always work. Still - Omens From The Dead Realm is overall a delightfully primitive release that will continue to fascinate. 

Omens From The Dead Realm eagerly plumbs the depth of classic 80s extreme metal, generally leaning towards the black metal side. As you pick through this release one can clearly pick up the influence of acts like Varathron and Mystifier on the sound. This is a group very much rooted in the classic elements of the genre and who triumph when they lean into those elements. Unfortunately when they diversify the sound things get a little weird. Throughout this record you'll hear random spoken word passages and even some more rock and roll riffs tat wile interesting on teir own, don't really make sense in the larger context of the record. 

Gnosis have crafted something here that is fierce and unrelenting at best and just a bit too unorganized at worse. As a general rule this record is a thriller and one that is going to make listeners excited to delve into the various offerings the band has unleashed. It's a logical third record for these Florida metallers and has me curious to uncover more from a band who seem focused in taking on the world and leaving the rest to suffer. Immerse yourself in their triumphant darkness and pay tribute once more to the legendary Nuclear War Now roster!

Pre-order the album!

https://nuclearwarnowproductions.bandcamp.com/album/omens-from-the-dead-realm

Herxheim - Incised Arrival

Herxheim play blackened death metal in the grand old style .While there music is certainly a bit primitive it's also the type of thing that you can really find yourself falling in love with as you dig ever deeper into what the band has conjured up. This is a record that goes above and beyond the limitations of many of its peers but crafts something that is completely obsessed with some of the origins of extreme music. It makes for a compelling and slightly creepy record that has me coming back time and time again.

What makes Incised Arrival so delectable is its weird mix of spooky synths and crushing Celtic Frost style riffing. While there are moments that certainly feel a bit more aggressive like on 'Lesson Crescent' there is something to be said for the groups trademark stomp and sense of twisted agony that has come to define so much of what they do. There is something transcendent about a band who choose to go back in time with their music like this. Part of what makes this album compelling is that Herxheim is doing it with some distance, they are looking at the whole '86-'93 period and cherrypicking the best ideas to showcase.

This is an interesting record and while it doesn't break new ground, it certainly is going to be a worthwhile discover for those who love some of the origins of extreme metal. Gleefully primitive and bone crushingly heavy this is the band at their finest, with a clear vision for their future and a deep understanding of what they have always admired. Getting lost in this record is a boatload of fun and has me curious about the next steps from Herxheim. They are guardians of the underground resistance and will not let it fade away.

Listen on Bandcamp!
https://herxheim.bandcamp.com/releases

Sign of Evil - Psychodelic Horror

Chilean black metal is a truly special and magical thing. There's always a unique blend of influences that serve to make for unique listening and distinct soundworlds. The debut seven inch from Sign Of Evil, Psychodelic Horror is a perfect example of this with creepy synths and brutarian stomps coming together to make for one hell of a record. The dungeon basement level production and clear dedication to underground ideals serves to make the record dynamic and interesting, a twisted offering driven by its own sense of forward motion.

There is something endlessly appealing to me about a track like 'Horror' with its crazed guitar work and blasting drums. Yes there are elements of psychedelia but the demonic remonstrances of Sign Of Evil go so much further than that. Psychodelic Horror is aware of its own inherent silliness. There's a typo in the album title for Satan's sake! But this is exactly what makes this type of music so valuable - it revels in its own madness and gives fans someting that evokes that inner fifteen year old. Sign Of Evil understand the magic in the metal and that there is metal in us all. Sure this is jsut a seven inch, but it's one that gets to the spirit of the underground.

With nary a single track bleeding over the two minute and thirty second mark, this record is an ADHD kids delight. One idea barely has a chance to sink in before they are off to the races with the next song. Psychodelic Horror may at times border on the primitive, but sometimes primitive is a good thing, sometimes its exactly what you need to remind you that there still is energy and power in the underground. So storming out of Chile Sign Of Evil bring true hate, and I fucking love every moment of it.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/signofevilchile/

Vaultwraith - Light the Candle In Honour of Devils

What I love about Hells Headbangers is their willingness, and really their ability to put out niche records that don't really make sense on any other label. Light The Candle In Honour Of Devils is a great example of this. Vaultwraith very much eal in a highly specific breed of underground black metal. They are a band who unleash hell through melodic bass playing and tributes to late 80s extreme metal that don't often seem to come roaring out of my speakers at least. It makes for compelling listening.

There is more to this though. Vaultwraith also impress because of their clear passion for King Diamond and Candlemass. They embrace the nerdy guitar solo and the melodic lead. There are guitar harmonies and moments of true bombast. The band has gone above and beyond many of their peers in the underground to craft a record that, while it may be a bit navel gazing, also feels distinctly 2019. Sure the approach is atavistic, but it is only with hindsight that the band has been able to unleash a record that is profound in its execution and clear in the overarching understanding of extreme metal that it brings to the table.

This all being said, in some ways, Light The Candle In Honour Of Devils is too raw. I'm not totally sold on the lo fi production, nor do I especially care for the guitar and bass tone. While I appreciate what the band is trying to do here, the execution isn't always where it needs to be. Yes it is a charming approach, but I don't know if it's an approach that I completely get. Still - if you like late 80s extreme metal, King Diamond, Usurper and all that twisted shit, then you are definitely going to find something to love in this.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/vaultwraith/

Urgehal - Aeons In Sodom

Urgehal have long been an incredibly important band in the black metal scene - so of course Trondr Nefas's untimely passing in 2012 was devastating. Yet out of those ashes came a piece of art that I think might already be the black metal album of the year. Bringing together members of nearly every Norwegian black metal band of import, from Darkthrone to Carpathian Forest and even Shining among countless other, Aeons In Sodom is a sort of endlessly exciting family reunion that pays tribute to all that made Urgehal great.

Half written by Trondr and the other half put together by Enzifer Aeons In Sodom is more than just a whose who of black metal. It is an album that resonates on a quasi-spiritual level. The touches of black n roll slotting in next to more frostbitten paeans (Often largely dependent on who is providing guest vocals) is endlessly fascinating to a music nerd like me. Furthermore, Urgehal has managed to live up to the promise that they had been hinting at for years and it makes you wonder what Trondr Would have been capable of if he hadn't passed. Everything about this record is perfect, from the ominous, blood rousing opening to its fatal finale and I think that any black metal fan would have a hard time denying its power. 

Aeons In Sodom balances everything I, and so many others, have loved about Norwegian black metal over the years. It has the trademark chaos and devastation, but also the refined and understated beauty. Toss in a hectic solo or two (The one on Blood Of The Legion is especially good) alongside gloriously satanic lyrics and it rapidly becomes clear why this album is going to ring out over the years. Rarely does the black metal community get together like this, but if ever an occasion merited it was this one - and so Urgehal shine on, one final gem in Trondr's crown as he fades into the past. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/nefas.official

Hellreign, Night Rite, Sentience and Abstruktor at ABC No Rio

The cigarette scented magic of matinee shows at ABC No Rio speaks to a very special kind of person. Their is a certain nostalgia I have for the underground as my career continues to advance and I'm left with fewer and fewer opportunities to go back to the roots and honor why I got myself into this mess in the first place. So now - slightly sick, and very tired, I'm taking a chance to look back and reflect on four bands I got to see tonight that gave me a refreshing glimpse about why we call this scene our own.

Hellreign are the first band that I've seen play in full corpse paint in far too long and their sound - reminiscent of truly old school black metal, a la early Mayhem or even Venom was wonderfully executed and very fun to watch. Taking themselves very seriously these young bucks thrashed across the stage with some crunchy riffs that definitely got the increasingly rowdy crowd off to a nice start. Though the audience skewed younger (This was an all ages matinee after all) Hellreign definitely pull of something that could appeal to metalheads of all ages, it's buzzing and glorious - speaking to an oft forgot part of the beauty of black metal.

A big part of why I came was Night Rite and their extremely talented and lovable guitarist Jeff Monge. Playing stripped down and groovy blackened crust punk (Or something - at this point genre designations start to break down) these guys slalomed their way through their first set ever. While it certainly felt like a first set the band seemed to be fairly comfortable with the whole thing and delivered accordingly. There are some very solid ideas here and I get the impression that Night Rite could be a very valuable addition to the New York City scene. These guys get what it means to deliver punky black metal to the masses and the world certainly needs more of that!

I was really impressed with Sentience, a death metal band who wear their Swedish influences on their collective sleeve and proudly rocked their way through a forty minute set that left the whole crowd smiling. Sentience are a lot of fun to watch live because they understand the pure bombast that death metal can have. They get to the spirit of the genre and leave you headbanging with your fist in the air and your voice screaming along to every chorus. This is a band that understands the pure sonic poetry of their work and create music that is surprisingly fun to listen too given how dark it is and leaving you wondering what more is in store for this band.

At first I was a bit pissed waiting around for Abstruktor. Their was a huge gap between them and Sentience and I was cold and wanted to go home...until they started to play. As one fan said after the show "They must be the closest you can get to having seen Metallica back in the day" and I have to agree. Abstruktor put on an incredibly energetic live show, spewing out thrash metal inspired by Nuclear Assault, Motorhead (In fact multiple members of this band have Motorhead tattoos), and of course Metallica. Abstruktor get what thrash metal is all about and it's impossible to watch them and not have the time of your fucking life.

And so the night came to a close and I took the subway on home, watching all sorts of demons and ghouls pass me by. It had been an interesting afternoon and certainly one I won't soon forget. That's what makes this scene special - waiting around all day to see a band you've never heard of, and then instantly falling in love. But fuck it - I never know what to say in these closing paragraphs other than that local shows are a huge part of what makes this whole thing work. If we want to continue to allow the magic of metal to spread - this is what we need to help make it survive.

Find the bands on Facebook!

Hellreign: https://www.facebook.com/Hellreign.official/?fref=ts

Nightrite: https://www.facebook.com/NightRite/?fref=ts

Sentience: https://www.facebook.com/sentiencedeathmetal/?fref=ts

Abstruktor: https://www.facebook.com/Abstruktor/?fref=ts

Manticore/Ritual Slaughter - Depraved Sacraments

I've touched on this before - but I will never get over the very special magic that black/death metal seven inch splits have. They've managed to find a very special place in my heart - especially when you get one that has two bands as good as Manticore and Ritual Slaughter. Both bands obsessed with Satan and inverting the cross Depraved Sacraments is one of those gloriously evil records that - though it features bands that sound quite different has a sense of perverse cohesion because of the uniformly blasphemic lyrical content.

Manticore start the record off with a band - underproduced drums and harsh vocals coming together to melt off faces with blazing riffs. Their unique brand of black metal slaughter is distinctly American - showcasing the unique brand of suffering that comes in the American South. Known for crucifying rats on stage (Or so says Encyclopaedia Metallum) there is something truly demented about this band that grates at the human psyche. Ritual Slaughter are wonderfully enjoyable, every demented battle cry calls forth the hordes of Satan and has the power to initiate a motherfucker of a circle pit. Their odes to Satan and overtly twisted lyrics are strangely addictive. There is something incredibly powerful about the cry of "Jesus" on Sworn to Profanation as if the power of that man is coming crashing down with every destructive power chord.

Though the record is just under fifteen minutes long it's certainly one that you can easily get lost in. The over the top sense of hostility against Christianity that defines Depraved Sacraments is stunning and speaks to the artistry of black metal. Manticore and Ritual Slaughter have both proven that they are among the best in the modern black metal scene and watching them flush out posers with each destructive ballad is surprisingly fun. Grating and evil - this is what old school black metal was truly meant to be about.

Find them on Facebook!

Manticore: https://www.facebook.com/Manticore666?fref=ts

Ritual Slaughter: https://www.facebook.com/ritual.slaughter?fref=ts

Aversion - S/T

There has been a pointed lack of thrash tinged black metal in my life. The thing is the truly evil stuff has always captured my imagination and big burly riffs that accentuate ungodly vocals make for a beautiful and life changing combination. The fact of the matter is that Aversion have been able to invoke the old masters on their self titled debut whilst simultaneously finding their own place in a crowded scene. A delicious mix of old and new these guys prove that good things can come from Canada!

The blazing ferocity of the guitars strikes you from the first. Sure not all the melodic lines are at 100% but honestly that just adds to the punky magic some of these songs have. The raw anger and corpse painted oppression that provides a delicious veneer to Aversion is also what keeps the record from fading to oblivion. Though Aversion may play off old tropes they are able to keep them fresh by constantly invoking tasty new ideas and remembering exactly what made us fall so deeply in love with their musical ancestors in the first place. It essentially means that Aversion is a sort of modern old school black metal release.

Aversion conjure up profound emotions and there is something deeply meditative about many of their tracks, despite the unchecked aggression that defines so much of the music. You hear these guys roaring forth with speedy riffs whose might should not be underestimated. The fact of the matter is that songs like Flesh of the Maggot prove that Aversion understand the unholy heart of black metal and they tear it out to present to the masses. In a world where bands like Kvelertak and Deafheaven are making us wonder what the genre can really be, Aversion show that the old ways still work wonders.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/AversionBand?fref=ts

Inquisition - Nefarious Dismal Orations

And so we continue on the wonderfully satanic journey through Inquisitions discography as Season of Mist continue their delicious re-releases. This time it seems that Inquisition got truly evil, embracing some more bombastic black metal tropes with crazed guitar solos and blazing riffs that give songs like Nocturnal Gatherings and Wicked Rites flavor (Jesus, why does this band have such long song titles?) Suffice to say, within just a few spins 2007's Nefarious Dismal Orations has become my favorite Inquisition record. 

Inquisition have always capture my imagination with how gleefully evil they come off as. With Nefarious Dismal Orations the unholy rituals that define this bands sound become all the more clear. The buzzing vocals fit on top of classic Inquisition riffs, but we also see moments that are almost Immortal-like. Other times the unholy hellfires are conjured up with crashing cascades of notes that tear the listener apart and force them to come to terms with their own nihlistic mortality. Furthermore, this record just sounds a lot better than previous ones, giving Inquisition the ability to really spread their dark love to the masses.

The cries of desperation that surge throughout this record define a sort of primal desperation that I think Inquisition has been trying to properly communicate for years. It's far too easy to get lost in the mystical soundscapes that are artfully crafted, guiding the listener into an infernal pagan bliss, heavy metal to make the listener suffer and feel the unspeakable wrath of the undead forces that drive this band forward. Nefarious Dismal Orations feels like the start of a new chapter for Inquisition. The old school black metal is still there, but they have infused it with enough modern magic to reign eternal. 

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/inquisition.official?fref=ts

Inquisition - Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan

You gotta love a record called Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan. Like seriously, you don't get much more over the top and wonderfully black metal than that. Inquisition understand what true black metal is about, hell, they shaped it. So getting to fall back into the demented worlds they created on this Season of Mist re-issue is a true pleasure. It proves that these guys had a poignant artistic vision, one that is hard to forget, because it is so gleefully Satanic that no one can afford to ignore it.

There is something that is actually fairly meditative about Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan, as if it is encouraging you to sit back, evaluate your life, and realize that black metal is in many ways a worldview as much as anything else. Inquisition were able to use this record all those years ago to create something that was incredibly dark, but also very cerebral. There is a distinct art to songs like Imperial Hymn for Our Master Satan with their bleak soundscapes and stunning ability to leave the listener wondering what happened to their very reality. The buzzing demons who inhabit this album give no quarter to the weak and will make you embrace the void.

So, let these songs of death and doom wash over you, for Inquisition have invoked the sublime blackness that should define this kind of music. Ritualistic and t times even terrifying, Invoking the Majestic Throne of Satan represents all of what black metal should be about. These guys thirteen year ago were able to rise up and wrestle away the black metal crown for themselves. Now we sit here in the year of our lord 2015 and have to wonder, has anyone been able to touch the monolith these guys have created?

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/inquisition.official

OBSESSÖR - Assassins of the Pentagram

Do you love first wave black metal? Tired of all the black metal bands emulating  Darkthrone and Emperor rather than Venom and King Diamond? Well have I got the band for you! Namely, OBSESSÖR, and in particular their badass new release "Assassins of the Pentagram".

From the first track the bands musical identity is thoroughly established. Track one, entitled "Return of the Usurper" moves from an eerie solo guitar melody reminiscent of Brocas Helm or Ghost, before going into high speed blackened-thrash riffage. The riffs and songwriting are similar to Mercyful Fate or Venom if Venom were infinitely more skilled with their instruments. The sound could be considered low-fi, but appealingly so, all of the instruments sound incredibly organic and un-modified which adds immensely to the album's overall sound, and calls back to the less digital tone present on the metal albums of the 70s and 80s.

Vocally the album alternates primarily between Thrash/Death metal style growls/shouts,  which have a bit of a Vader quality to them and suit the musics sound bizarrely well,  and high pitched King Diamond style falsetto. That said, the latter style is dispersed widely enough that if you're one of those folks who hates King Diamonds vocals and can't listen to them without giggling (you know who you are), you should still be able to enjoy the album.

Tracks like "Hordes of The Goat Kult", "Necromancer", "The Devils Soldiers" which is probably the most black metal track on the album, and "Black Speed Thunder" exemplify the best of what the album has to offer, with fun riffs, memorable vocals, and the bands uniquely energetic approach to old school black metal. While the riffs and song structures do get a tad repetitive as the album progresses, the pros heavily outweigh the cons, and if you're a fan of good, energetic, old school black metal, OBSESSÖR is definitely worth checking out.

Find Them On Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/blitzkriegbattalion

Inquisition - Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult

The cool thing about all these Season Of Mist reissues is that it really gives me a chance to go back to records I spun when I was younger and listen to them with a more critical ear. More than that, it gives me the chance to take another look at forgotten gems, like Inquisitions Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult and go "Oh shit" I had genuinely forgotten how exciting and innovative this record is, and digging back in to its low frequency buzzing and burbled vocals is a wonderfully bleak experience.

These are not songs of the light, no, they guide the listener down a dead end path, but in a way its liberating. A magical inversion of all things that so many of us hold sacred, the lofi power of Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult is impressive. These sounds are often inhuman and songs like Journey to Infernukeorreka reveal an obsession with the occult and inner darkness that few of the bands peers can aspire too. This the sort of music you listen to when falling into the darkest meditative haze of your life. It forces you to look beyond the sorrows of everyday and get a sense of the greater battle facing us all.

Inquisition proved themselves with Into The Infernal Regions of the Ancient Cult and the fact that it still rings out triumphant in 2015, shows that they really knew what was up. This is a black metal band who had all of the atavistic might of their peers while still crafting something that would stand the test of time. So let these songs wash over you and try to find some semblance of peace, all I know is that the further you go down this particular rabbit hole the harder it will be to hold on to your sanity. But perhaps it's better that way...

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/inquisition.official

Putrid Christ - Burning Temples of the Holy

USBM has always been interesting me because it tends to be less abrasive and blasphemous than its European counterpart. However, I've always been struck by the bands that were able to totally contradict this and put out something fresh and exciting, black metal that horrifies the listener and proves that American black metallers aren't just a bunch of nature loving hippies but instead men and women who can strive for something profoundly evil, and Burning Temples Of The Holy is nothing if not evil.

The magic of Burning Temples Of The Holy is that despite the crushing riffs and oftentimes frightening brutality that defines so much of the record there is still something you can get lost in. These songs go deeper and seem to encourage the listener to find the sublime darkness within. There is something endlessly fascinating about demonic odes like Raped In the Ruins of the Woods. The touches of bombast help to make this record almost... fun at times, or at least extremely listenable. The exterior, as alienating as it might be, of the Putrid Christ sound does not speak to the magic and mesmerizing power of the deep cuts.

So dig in, let these blast beats seep into your soul and try to find some dreg of sanity to hold on to before you dive into the void. Putrid Christ seem singularly obsessed with darkness and getting into the perverted palace of their minds is quite the journey. One of the premier USBM acts today, the future seems bright for these Minnesota based blasphemers. The kvlt remains alive with the eternal darkness stirred up by Putrid Christ and their wonderful sense of evil will keep you awake in the dark hours of the night.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/putridchrist666

Stigmhate-Zodacare Od Zodameranu

Blistering black metal from the darkest parts of Italy, Stigmhate are the sort of destructive force that understand the distinctly evil magic that true black metal should have. These guys have a very tight sound, and one that few of their peers can match. Their new record Zodacare Od Zodameranu has more than a touch of evil about it and speaks to the almighty and evil power of the genre over the weak and poserkind. Stigmhate grasp the brutal truth of our existence and spread it to the people, demonstrating the raw destruction that transcends all things.

Even from the opening evil cries of Aetherion you start to get a sense for the darkness found within this record. Stigmhate seem to be turned on to a sort of inner evil few can even dream of. On top of that, the production is simply brilliant. It allows perfectly constructed songs to become epics (The best example perhaps being Pleroma Apocrifa Mistica) but it also lets the harsh black metal riffs stay fierce. With Zodacare Od Zodameranu it must be said that even though they've been around for almost fifteen years, these guys are not going to slow down soon, and are definitely not losing their edge, if anything, they have only become more fierce.

As we fall into the pit that is Zodacare Od Zodameranu we must be careful to remember to pay our respects to the pagan forefathers, to honor those who came before. Yet, beyond this, Stigmhate are not going anywhere, they are simply getting angrier with age, falling deeper into darkness as they become more aware of the bleakness of this earth. There is a certain power here that only comes from brutal experience, and I think that Stigmhates intelligent and inspiring black metal rage will inspire fans for years, and maybe decades to come!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/stigmhate

Draugul-Tales of Loot and Plunder

Now, I first reviewed Draugul a few months ago for another release, The Voyager. I was immediately impressed by the Bathory tinged glory of Drauguls music. As far as one man projects go, this was one of the most developed and well thought out. Now with a new record Tales of Loot and Plunder Draugul is taking the black metal triumph to a whole new level. This is the sort of victorious black metal the world needs more of, well developed, well thought out and overall just mind boggling. Draugul understands the spirit of black metal and brings it to the fore.

As I dig in to Tales of Loot and Plunder I start to realize that one of the main things that makes this record so special for me is the wonderful mix of growls and clean vocals. Really, not a lot of bands get this kind of combination going and deliver it with such skill. On top of that, the song structures are wonderfully engaging with atmospheric keyboards providing a triumphant padding to a glorious black metal attack. The guitar riffs are very tight, they have a great sense of drive behind them which really keeps the listener engaged as they spin the record time and time again. Draugul has clearly evolved since The Voyager (As great as that record is) into a veritable otherworldly force.

Tied to the glorious metal of yore and times forgot, Tales of Loot and Plunder will capture the heart of any metaller who loves bands like Summoning. The man behind the project, Hellcommander is a gifted musician and I hope that one day he gets the recognition he deserves. I'm not exaggerating when I say that Tales of Loot and Plunder is one of the best black metal records of 2014, and deserves to be recognized as such. Hellcommander may very well be our generations Quorthon, a gifted innovator who will ultimately save the world from decadent and dull black metal.

Find Draugul on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/draugul/timeline

Mayhem-Esoteric Warfare

If you are anything like me, when you first heard there was going to be a new Mayhem record in 2014 your heart was filled with the sublime darkness that only these black metal legends can invoke. After a long seven years since their last great release Ordo Ad Chao Mayhem are back and ready to continue their sacred war against all of poserkind. Their first record with Teloch and Charles Hedger, everyone has been nervous as to what Mayhem will put out. I'll say it now, Esoteric Warfare is everything you could expect from Mayhem and more.

One of my favorite aspects of this recording is Hellhammers drumming, his talent is inspiring and their is a certain unholy rage pumping through the music that just blasts everything forward to a whole new level of madness. Attilla really proves himself as a vocalist on this record, despite criticism from fans, you have to admire his vocal lines on tracks like Throne of Time, there is a certain evil incarnate here that few black metal vocalists get at these days. As for Teloch he does a wonderful job of capturing the classic Mayhem sound in their riffs and I'm sure as he gets more comfortable with his role in the band it will allow him to give the music a unique vibe of his own.

As Necrobutcher thuds his way through yet another batch of classic you start to get a sense for the indescribable power of Mayhem. This is possibly the most notorious band in the history of music, yet they're still doing what they love and leaving their fans jaws dropped in awe of the atavistic might that they so proudly champion. Esoteric Warfare has all of the elements that makes Mayhem great and even brings some fresh new ideas courtesy of Teloch. Come join the unholy metal communion and let your body be taken over by the black metal madness of pure Esoteric Warfare.

Find The True Mayhem on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/mayhemofficial

Hyperborean-Mythos of the Great Pestilence

Black metal fueled by raw anger, that's certainly something we don't get enough of in this day and age. Fortunately Hyperborean are here to help with a sound that resonate of true evil and will send heads banging across the land. Their songwriting ability is impressive and their pure understanding of the wonderful magic of black metal... well, it simply can't be beat. Nevertheless, these guys are still bringing things forward, unafraid to mix in a few exciting experimental elements to a destructive black metal attack. Once you get their what more could you ask for?

See, their new record Mythos of the Great Pestilence gets at the raw evil of black metal, and is filled with a wonderfully dark energy. Even from the first track, the mighty Hail Dystopia, you get a sense for the darkness within the Hyperborean sound. The thing is, these guys really know how to riff and don't hide it. Every song is chock full of exciting ideas that force your body into a weird and unholy motion. After three years of waiting, the sense of triumph on this record is palatable, it is a clear step forward for the band and fills me with the sort of bleak joy that makes so much black metal so good. Hyperborean get to the spirit of the genre we know and love, and then tear out its beating heart for us all to see.

Hyperborean are a fun listen for any black metal lover. Simply put, they get it. They see the purpose of black metal and their lyrics are filled with the incredible gravitas of elder statesmen of the genre. The final track, a simply jaw dropping cover of Blue Oyster Cults Don't Fear the Reaper is simply the icing on the cake, proving that Hyperborean are not a band to be trifled with and will rip out your throat without a moments hesitation. Prepare to fall into the secular haze of this record, simply put, Mythos of the Great Pestilence will consume your soul!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/HyperboreanSwe

Lucifer's Hammer

There is something to be said for old school blackened death metal, it's the kind of thing that in this strange modern age, we really don't get enough of. So when a band comes out who did it all back in the 80's and never really got known, well, that's pretty cool to check out. Lucifer's Hammer is one such act and their new record The Mists of Time MMXIV showcases the primitive and beautiful evil that true death metal was always supposed to have. These Chilean masters were on the cutting edge when this record was first done, and the strange power behind the music is definitely something to be reckoned with. The music here is a evil form of blackened death metal that uses soaring keyboards to add a strange and otherworldly quality to the music. The riffs are mighty, ringing forth with the rage of a boar, goring the listener even as they try to find peace within the music. Lucifer's Hammer are perhaps the best band to come out of the 80's Chilean death metal scene and The Mists of Time MMXIV captures all of the reasons for this mastery. If you want to be exposed to the true blackened evil of extreme metal from one of South America's most torn countries, this is the record for you!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Lucifershammerband